Edge Pro Sharpener Question

I've heard you guys mention this sharpener from time to time. Could you give some input on how will it proforms, and who carries it.
 
I had an Edge Pro a couple of years ago, and my experience was that it works very well on everything except folders with thumb studs; when trying to sharpen the back of the blade, the stone hit the stud, making it impossible to sharpen without removing the stud (which is pretty hard to do on some knives!)

I sold mine a while ago, but I'd buy another if I needed to sharpen large blades on a regular basis; it excels at that.

Also, Ben, the guy who makes and sells the Edge Pro, is a great guy. I called him with my thumb stud question, and although we weren't really able to reach a resolution, he called back twice and was very helpful.

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For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23


 
Hmm, I haven't run into the thumb stud problem yet (I've had the sharpener a couple years, but with so many more knives than pockets, not all of them have needed sharpening yet). The only problem I've run into is that with (approx.) 1-1/2" wide flat stones, you can't really sharpen recurve blades (e.g. BM710 Axis Lock or Emerson Commander) very well. Have to switch to my old Sharpmaker for some of the inner curve. Oh, and the Sharpmaker is probably also a better approach for serrations.

And I still ended up using the Apex for reprofiling about 85% of the edge of my BM710BT, because, for the part it can reach, it's such a joy to use. But I'd like to see a stone or two for the Apex with the same cross section as a "half-round" file, a little bowed out, so you can do the inside of a recurved edge with it.

But I use the Apex for everything else. Nothing can hold an angle the way it can -- it makes absolute childs play out of the toughest part of sharpening, keeping the angle consistent. And the angle is infinitely adjustable, rather than being multiple choice (cf Sharpmaker, Lansky), so it's easy to keep the factory edge geometry if you want.

Even with something like the Sharpmaker, everyone says, "oh, easy, you just hold the blade vertical," -- yeah, well, just how close to vertical can you really hold by hand, keeping it the same for every stroke? 2 degrees? 1 degree? 1/2 degree? Can you really eyeball 1/720th of a circle? I find it much too easy to do unplanned Moran convex edges when trying to maintain the angle by hand.

Every other sharpener I've tried frustrates me, but the Apex just makes edges that glisten (oh, and cut, of course; they do that too
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).

Er, no, I'm not an Edge Pro salesman, and I don't play one on TV, either
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. I just really like the sharpener.

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Carl /\/\/\ AKTI #A000921 /\/\/\ San Diego, California

Think this through with me ... Let me know your mind
Wo-oah, what I want to know ... is are you kind?
-- Hunter/Garcia, "Uncle John's Band"
 
I just called the Edge Pro Apex the "Sebenza of sharpeners" on another thread. Sharpened everything from a small whittler to a 4 lb Salyan khukuri.
The BM 710 does not create much of a problem for me. In fact two of them are kept glistening sharp with my apex.
Others in previous threads talked about the time to set up. In my hands no longer than the sharpmaker.
Best sharpening investment IMHO.
Stopped be the factory a few months ago and met Ben Dale. He is there when not out windsurfing on the Colombia river.
I was concerned about sharpening my new military plain edge in 440V. It gets thinner and blade width narrows over the length of the blade. The Apex put a near perfect edge in only a few minutes.
I like it so much, anymore it is set up on my reloading bench so always ready to use. Only problem, once the edge is on the blade, it lasts too long for me to stay in good practice.
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If you can afford it, get one.
Great product, and great company.
Jim
I know I sound like a commercial, sorry.
no affiliation with Edge Pro, just a very satisfied customer.
 
While we are on the subject....I think I may have misassembled mine after a period in storage. I find the rod sometimes binds a little in the block when I am using it with my left hand. Can someone tell me on which side the thumbscrew goes......left or right when standing in front of the machine.
I don't want to disassemble it unnecessarilly as I always have problems finding my preferred angle again. The Magic marker method is not as reliable as I keep reading....for my old eyes, anyway.
Thanx

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BrianWE
ICQ #21525343




[This message has been edited by brian w edginton (edited 27 November 1999).]
 
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